BC Water Activities

Deep Cove, just half an hour from downtown Vancouver, is a gateway to Indian Arm, a gorgeous 18-km/11-mi, mountain-encased fjord offering kayaking excursions ranging from a few hours to multi-day. Stretch out on a remote beach, explore an island, or just take in magnificent views and paddle until dusk. While in North Vancouver, stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites – it’s conveniently located approximately 10 minutes from the Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre, which has rentals and everything required for an adventure.

Take a paddle-powered tour of Vancouver on a kayak tour of English Bay or False Creek. Float past Stanley Park or Granville Island, learn about Vancouver's history, and enjoy the sights and sounds of one of North America’s most dynamic port cities. A guided trip on English Bay is great for beginners and can include instruction. Ecomarine Ocean Kayak offers rentals, lessons and tours, and has three locations: Granville Island, Jericho Beach and English Bay. And there are many hotels near Ecomarine; try the Granville Island Hotel – it’s right on the water, close to shops and has a roof-top hot tub.

Wells Gray Provincial Park, in the Thompson Okanagan region is home to Murtle Lake, North America’s largest paddle-only lake. Go canoeing along pristine, wildlife-dotted shores miles from civilization. In the evening, set up camp, make a crackling fire and pan-fry fresh trout. Guided canoe trips are readily available in the park. Try Backcountry Adventures, which has more than 25 years of professional guiding experience in Wells Gray.

Enjoy the finer things in life – like gourmet food, great wine and camping under the stars – on a weekend paddling adventure with Sealegs Kayaking Tours and Edible Canada. Explore the scenic, sheltered Gulf Islands and enjoy gourmet meals as part of the kayak tour, which includes locally sourced food paired with BC wines.

Watch for bear, moose, beavers and more on a 6- to 10-day adventure paddling through the picturesque Bowron Lakes. Outside Magazine calls the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit “One of the Top Ten Canoe Trips in the World”. The circuit, which includes 108km/65mi of paddling and 8km/5mi of portaging, travels through unspoiled wilderness in the northeast corner of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. The number of canoes on the circuit is limited and reservations with a reputable guiding company are highly recommended. Pathways Canada Tour Co. is one; they’ve been doing trips on the Bowron Lakes for decades.

Looking for an adrenaline rush? Try a whitewater rafting trip down Green River in Whistler. Start the journey on placid Green Lake to learn safety and paddling procedures, then hit the 7-km/4.5-mi river, where fun-filled rapids and mountain scenery awaits. After rafting, stroll through Whistler Village, have dinner on Longhorn Saloon’s sunny patio and unwind at a great hotel such as The Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

Skuzzy, Hell’s Gate, Jaws of Death, Devil’s Kitchen and Simpson’s Falls are just some of the big-time rapids to negotiate on a whitewater rafting tour of the mighty Fraser and Thompson rivers. Trips also include gorgeous scenery and glimpses of the Cariboo Wagon Road, a narrow horse-and-wagon trail built during the 1860s gold rush. Kumsheen Rafting Resort is a great option; they offer comfortable teepees, canvas tents or campsites. Kumsheen is located 3.5 hours northeast of Vancouver near Lytton.

Get schooled by class IV rapids on the Kicking Horse River. Rushing through heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Kicking Horse River offers one of North America’s most exciting whitewater rafting experiences. Enjoy Class II to Class IV rapids in the scenic Kicking Horse Canyon, and hold on tight through legendary rapids like Rollercoaster, Twin Towers and Eye of the Needle. Full-day and half-day excursions, family trips, leisurely floats and riverside BBQs are available. Alpine Rafting, Glacier Raft Company and Wet N' Wild Adventures,  in Golden, are rafting tour companies that run the river.